The Cleveland Browns placed safety Derrick Kindred on injured reserve this week after he injured his wrist during the team’s Week 15 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Kindred was an active player for the Browns secondary in his second season out of TCU, playing in all 14 games, with 10 starts, and finishing with 56 tackles, six pass breakups, and one interception.
In his absence, defensive coordinator Gregg Williams plans to use rookies Jabrill Peppers and Kai Nacua to play closer to the line of scrimmage. Peppers had been playing the “angel” free safety position in Williams’ scheme, although it was thought he would be utilized closer to the ball where he can utilize his speed and power to make impact plays in run support, or maybe even as a pass-rusher.
It looks like we’ll get to see some of what Peppers can do in those regards in the final two games, which may be a taste of what’s to come in the future for the young defensive back.
To replace Kindred on their 53-man roster, the Browns signed veteran defensive back B.W. Webb. Webb, a 5-foot-10, 183-pounder has played in the NFL for five seasons after being drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL draft. He is now on his fifth team in as many seasons, and has totals of 61 tackles, 14 passes defensed, and two interceptions.
The team also inked defensive back Trevon Hartfield to their practice squad. Hartfield, a 6-foot, 183-pounder first-year player began his NFL career on the Arizona Cardinals practice squad following the 2016 NFL draft. He appeared in two games last season for the Cardinals, the last two of the year, but recorded no statistics.